Mixing palette

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a hawk, which comprises a surface for applying a material, in particular a filler, and a handle. To provide a hawk, which is ergonomically designed such that even relatively long working with the hawk is possible, it is proposed in the scope of the invention that the handle on the underside of the hawk is designed with an essentially L-shaped cross-section. By this means it becomes possible to hold the hawk by means of two fingers, which are inserted laterally into the handle, it thereby being possible, by virtue of the natural clenching tendency, to hold the hawk without quickly becoming tired. In a further development of the invention, the handle has a T-shaped cross-section.

DESCRIPTION

[0001] The invention relates to a hawk, which consists of a surface forapplying a composition, in particular a filler, and a handle.

[0002] Such hawks are known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 1,865,885,in which the handle is a cylindrical rod arranged in the center of thesurface. In the case of such a hawk, the handle is grasped, and duringrelatively long use and, in particular mixing of the substances on theboard, this leads to severe straining of the wrist and the forearmtendons, and thus to tiring of the hand.

[0003] A corresponding hawk is also known from European Patent EP 0 141482 A3, wherein, in the case of this hawk, which is rectangular indesign, one lateral edge extends upwards, opposite to the direction ofthe handle.

[0004] German patent DE 296 19 285 U1 discloses an ergonomic hawk with athumb recess for holding the hawk and depressions for receivingsubstances.

[0005] German patent DE 508 758 C describes a painters spatula having onits underside a thumb ring, through which the thumb is inserted, whilethe fingers of the hand lie on the opposite side of the spatula. In thisdocument, a strap is also described into which the entire hand,including the thumb, can be inserted.

[0006] The object of the invention thus consists in providing a hawk,which is ergonomically designed such that even relatively long workingwith the hawk is possible.

[0007] This object is achieved according to the invention in that thehandle is formed on the underside of the hawk with an essentiallyL-shaped cross-section.

[0008] By this means it becomes possible to hold the hawk by means oftwo fingers, which are introduced laterally into the handle, it therebybeing possible, by virtue of the natural clenching tendency, to hold thehawk without quickly becoming tired.

[0009] In a further development of the invention, the handle has aT-shaped cross-section.

[0010] It is expedient to arrange the handle essentially in the centerof the surface.

[0011] By this means, a symmetrical weight distribution is achieved.

[0012] In a further development of the invention, grip ridges, knobs orholes are formed concentrically around the handle.

[0013] This allows, alternatively to the manner described above, thehawk to be held such that it is supported on the upwardly turned palm ofthe hand, and, by insertion of the fingers into the grip ridges, knobsor holes, it is secured and thus allows exchange between twofundamentally different manners of holding.

[0014] According to the invention, it is provided to connect, in oneaxis, the ends of the T-shaped handle to the underside of the surface.

[0015] By this means, in one axis, two parallel insertion holes for thefingers are provided, which ensure secure holding of the hawk.

[0016] It is advantageous that a magnet is integrated in the handle.

[0017] This allows temporary fixing of the hawk on a metal surface, forexample a car body.

[0018] One embodiment of the invention consists in the surface havingupwardly facing lateral edges.

[0019] By this means it is possible, on the surface, to prepare liquidsubstances, or keep them for use.

[0020] An advantageous embodiment of the invention consists in thesurface being provided with a detachable covering.

[0021] This covering, which can be fastened on the surface, for exampleby means of a hook-and-loop fastener, can be easily disposed of afteruse, so that the surface does not need to be cleaned.

[0022] It is advantageous in this context that a plurality of mutuallysuperimposed layers are formed as a tear-off block to be fastenedexchangeably on the hawk.

[0023] It is thereby possible, after use of one of the layers, to peelit off and dispose of it, so that a hawk that is ready for use is thenavailable immediately. Once all layers of a tear-off block have beenused up, a new tear-off block is merely applied onto the hawk.Complicated and time-consuming cleaning effort can thereby beeliminated.

[0024] In the scope of the invention, depressions are provided on thetop side of the surface.

[0025] In these depressions, different substances can be prepared orkept ready for use.

[0026] It is advantageous to provide snap elements on the top side ofthe surface to receive containers.

[0027] This allows the surface to be rapidly fitted with the material tobe processed, or said material to be exchanged.

[0028] The scope of the invention also includes a container for tear-offblocks for a hawk according to the invention, the container beingdesigned as an upwardly open box and essentially having the format ofthe tear-off blocks, and having a lid with a surrounding rim in theupper region, into which the hawk can be inserted.

[0029] The scope of the invention further includes a wall mount for ahawk according to the invention, a surface being provided, which isparallel to a wall and spaced therefrom and has a slit at one side, intowhich the thinner portion of the handle of the hawk can be introduced,the slit being narrower than the largest diameter of the handle.

[0030] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below withreference to drawings, wherein

[0031]FIGS. 1a, b and c show a hawk according to the invention in sideview, in sectional view and a front view of the underside,

[0032]FIGS. 1d and e show a different embodiment of a hawk of this kind,as an elevation of the underside and in sectional view,

[0033]FIGS. 2a, b and c show a different hawk according to the inventionin side view sectional view, and a front view of the underside,

[0034]FIGS. 2d shows a variation of FIG. 2c,

[0035]FIGS. 3a and b show a further hawk according to the invention inside view and a front view of the underside,

[0036]FIGS. 4a and b show a wall mount for a hawk according to theinvention in plan view and side view

[0037]FIG. 5 shows a container for tear-off blocks for a hawk accordingto the invention.

[0038] The hawks according to the invention as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3have in each case a surface 1 of any arbitrary shape (circular, angular,etc.) for application of a composition, it being possible for the sideedges 2 of said surfaces to face upwards to permit the preparation ofcompositions comprising powder and water, and the keeping of liquid orviscous compositions.

[0039] Surface 1 can be provided with an, as far as possible,liquid-proof covering, which can be attached to surface 1, for example,by means of a hook-and-loop fastener, and after the use of the surfacecan be peeled off and disposed of. It is also possible to provide aplurality of mutually superimposed, detachable coverings on surface 1,and, as in the case of a paper block, to peel of the respective topmostused covering and dispose of it.

[0040] Alternatively, it is possible for surface 1 to consist of aflexible material, e.g. plastic, so that, after the composition is dry,it can be removed from surface 1 by bending the surface 1.

[0041] On the top side of surface 1, depressions can be provided, whichserve for preparation or keeping of various compositions, or snapelements for receiving containers can be arranged thereon.

[0042] As is clearly indicated by FIGS. 1a, b and 2 a, b, a handle 3 isarranged in the center of surface 1 on the underside thereof, whichhandle has an L-shaped cross-section (FIGS. 1d, e) (or, as a subordinatecase of the L-shaped cross-section, has a T-shaped cross-section, FIGS.1a, b, c, 2 a, b). Around the handle 3, concentric grip grooves 4 (FIG.1c), or grip knobs or grip holes 5 (FIG. 2c, FIG. 2d) are arranged,which serve for securing the hawk by means of the fingers, the hawkbeing supported by means of the handle 3 on the upwardly facing palm ofthe hand, and can be roughened or sand-coated. The underside of thesurface 1 can have a curvature 10, which serves for ergonomic receptionon the inner surface of the hand. The handle 3 can be provided withmagnets to allow the hawk to be securely put down on metal objects, forexample vehicle bodies.

[0043] As is indicated by FIGS. 3a and b, it is also possible, in oneaxis, to join the ends of the T-shaped handle 3 to the underside ofsurface 1, so that, in this axis, insertion openings 6 for two fingersare available. In the center region of the handle 3, a recess 7 can beprovided between the introduction openings 6.

[0044] This variant also has the advantage that the handle 3 has arectangular cross-section, which allows, for example, the hawk to beclamped in a vice.

[0045] For storing the hawk according to the invention, the wall mountshown in FIGS. 4a and b is suitable, which has a plane 8, which isarranged parallel to the wall and spaced therefrom, and has on its topside a slit 9, into which the narrower portion, which is perpendicularto surface 1, of the handle 3 of the hawk can be introduced, but thebroader portion, which is parallel to surface 1, cannot. In this manner,the hawk can be secured in the slit 9.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 5, the tear-off blocks 13 for a hawk accordingto the invention can be kept in an upwardly open container 11 ofappropriate dimensions. The container 11 can be closed by means of a lid12, which has, in its upper region, a surrounding rim, into which thehawk according to the invention can be inserted.

1. Hawk, comprising a surface for applying a composition, in particulara filler, and a handle, characterized in that the handle (3) is formedon the underside of the hawk with an essentially L-shaped cross-section.2. Hawk according to claim 1, characterized in that the handle (3) hasan essentially T-shaped cross-section.
 3. Hawk according to claim 1,characterized in that the handle (3) is arranged essentially in thecenter of the surface (1).
 4. Hawk according to claim 1, characterizedin that grip grooves (4), or grip holes (5) are formed preferablyconcentrically around the handle.
 5. Hawk according to claim 2,characterized in that, in one axis, the ends of the T-shaped handle (3)are connected to the underside of the surface (1).
 6. Hawk according toclaim 1, characterized in that a magnet is integrated in the handle (3).7. Hawk according to claim 1, characterized in that the surface (1) hasupwardly facing lateral edges (2).
 8. Hawk according to claim 1,characterized in that the surface (1) is made of flexible material. 9.Hawk according to claim 1, characterized in that the surface (1) isprovided with a detachable covering.
 10. Hawk according to claim 9,characterized in that a plurality of mutually superimposed layers of thedetachable covering are arranged on the surface (1).
 11. Hawk accordingto claim 10, characterized in that the mutually superimposed layers areformed as a tear-off block to be exchangeably fastened on the hawk. 12.Hawk according to claim 1, characterized in that depressions areprovided on the top side of the surface (1).
 13. Hawk according to claim1, characterized in that snap elements for receiving containers areprovided on the top side of the surface (1).
 14. Container for tear-offblocks for a hawk according to claim 11, characterized in that thecontainer is designed as an upwardly open box, which essentially has theformat of the tear-off block, and comprises a lid with a surrounding rimin the upper region, into which the hawk can be inserted.
 15. Wall mountfor a hawk according to the invention, wherein a surface is provided,which is parallel to a wall and spaced therefrom and has a slit at oneside into which the thinner portion of the handle of the hawk can beintroduced, the slit being narrower than the largest diameter of thehandle.